Snow in Phoenix Area March 12 2006

After a record 143 days without rain in Phoenix, the drought ended with
a bang. Lots of thunder and lightning started at about 3 AM on Saturday
morning and it rained steady until late Sunday morning. It was a cold
storm with snow levels down below 3000'. Flagstaff received 15" of
snow. Some areas east of Phoenix got almost 3' of snow in 24 hours. Cave
Creek, which is less than a half hour north of Phoenix, received 6"
of snow covering the saguaros and other cactus. Other mountains around
the valley were snow covered too. I went out to a favorite spot about
40 minutes from my house to take a few photos and enjoy the view before
it all melted. I tried to take some pictures in the morning when the snow
was fresh but the mountains were shrouded in clouds and hidden from view.